coliseum 300 bass cab pairing

[snxbassist]

hey i just got a sunn coliseum 300 bass head on craigslist and i was wondering what cabs you guys think i should use.  i have been told that the original setup was something like 2 1x15 or 2 2x15 and i was wondering if anyone  knew what the classic setup was and any cab companies and models i should look into for running this head.
thanks
devin

[bigobassman]

Welcome to the forum snxbassit - I asked this same question back in January of this year and got lots of good info.  If you'll type correct coliseum cab in the search function on this site and then look at about the 6th or so entry, you'll find my thread and all of the answers I got.  As you will see, I had (and still do) the 2-15 cab.  I now have 2 of the MV18 (18" Cerwin Vega folded horn) cabs.  The 2-15 is great, but the 18 cab is tremendous.  Enjoy.   

Oren

[snxbassist]

did you have 1 2x15 or 2 2x15
thanks

[bigobassman]

I have 1 2x15, a newer (Sunn/Fender) 300 watt cab.   

[snxbassist]

any suggestions of companies or models for me to look into for the head?
Devin

[bigobassman]

Hey Devin - I'm not sure what you are asking.  Does the head need repairs??  Or are you asking something else.   

Oren

[snxbassist]

my apologies. The head is fine I was wondering if you knew could recomend any cabs for me to go with the head.
Devin

[bigobassman]

In addition to the Sunn cabs I mentioned above, I've used my 300 for gigs with an early 70s Fender Bassman 2x15 cab coupled with an Acoustic Control Corporation model 106 2x15 cab.  Another good combo.   

[snxbassist]

Thanks other than the obvious difference in amount of speaker would there be any difference in running 2-2x15 and 2 1x15  or 1 2x15 ?
Thanks
Devin

[bigobassman]

I generally find that 2 cabs, regardless of what number of 15s are in it, give you the obvious more headroom, but also a fuller bigger sound - IMO. 

[Humbuzz]

It depends what kind of sound you are looking for.  I have used 2 x 215SH cabinets (the "scoop" looking sideways folded horn) and found them to  be too "honky".  But stack them on their sides with the horn mouths together and you get amazing throw and  complaints from the back of the room!

My most common pairing is a 215SH w/ 2 Altec 421A's and a 118SH. It's horn mouth was close to the floor; it is really a  top cabinet.  I was never fortunate enough to find a 118sh bottom cab. The Altecs provided the punch and the 18 the bottom.  Was a string combination, but murky; not much definition.  Makes my 74 Precision sound like an EBO.  The 18 and a front loading 215 cab would be perfect.  Just know that an 18 & 2 15s are freaking loud.  I never got much past 3.  It's a real massage!

I feel the Coliseum EQ is a little light on the bottom end compared to my Acoustic 370 head, that may be why 18's were so popular.  I would really like to replace that old Vega 18 with a hefty modern speaker.  The Vegas is just rated at 200 watts and craps out fairly easily.

[bigobassman]

Humbuzz - I'm not sure which cab you're referencing on the Vega 18 - but the ones in the Sunn MV18 and the Acoustic 301 (the cab for the 370 head) are virtually the same - both 300 watts.   

[Humbuzz]

Sorry...  The Vega 200 wt rating was from memory when I replaced the speaker  30+ years ago.  I replaced the Vega 18" with a new one, but the power handling seem the same.  Perhaps I was was unimpressed with the power handling because the horn mouth was at my feet. Such is life playing through a subwoofer.

By way of history: my Sunn 118 folded horn cabinet was purchased from a Sunn employee about '74 or '75 when I was in high school back in Tigard, about 6 miles from Tualatin.  I think he built it from leftovers; it is definitely Sunn, but the tolex was not folded all the way over at the front edge and the Sunn label was included in an envelope. I also bought two unloaded 215SH cabs where i had to construct the back panels. I put Eminences in one and 421A's in the other. My Coliseum Bass is an early 320 watt model, SN in the low 300's.  As you can imagine, Tigard was awash with Sunn rigs.  We used to dumpster dive at Sunn late nights on the way back from gigs.

I also had an Acoustic 370/301 combo (I still use the head with the 118SH &  the 215SH/Altec). I thought the 301 generally sounded better than the 118SH, but the 301 cabinet buzzed at the edges of the grilles and it was a bear to transport.

Talking about this makes makes my Ashdown 210H seem so wimpy

[bigobassman]

No problem Humbuzz...Do I understand you to say that you still have a CV 18?  If so, what is the model number on it?

That's a pretty cool history on the Sunn 118.  I would love to hear some of the dumpster dive stories.  Though not dumpster diving, I did find a 15" Altec Lansing in a dumpster.  Needed very little to get it up to spec.

I just picked up another 301 cab on New Years Day.  Another one of my favorites.  It just needs a little TLC cosmetically and it will be good to go.  The buzzes you referenced can be frustrating to find, particularly with the folded horn design and especially on the 301.  Lots of places for rattles to develop.  And yes, the fridges are monsters to move, but I do love the looks and sound.  I'm sure lots of cabs are wimpy in comparrison to the Sunn and 301 cabs.